Hilary Minster
Encyclopedia
Roger Michael Hilary Minster, better known as Hilary Minster, (21 March 1944 Surrey
, England
– 24 November 1999 ) was an English
character actor
.
He is perhaps best known for playing General Erich Von Klinkerhoffen
in the sitcom 'Allo 'Allo!
between 1984 and 1992. Other credits include Crossroads, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
, and a semi-regular role in Secret Army
as Hauptmann
Muller.
He also appeared twice in Doctor Who
, as the Thal soldier Marat in Planet of the Daleks
(1973) and as an unnamed Thal soldier in Genesis of the Daleks
(1975). This makes him one of the few Doctor Who actors to have played two characters from the same alien race.
He also had a major part in another episode of a successful science fiction series playing Yagon in Achilles Heel, an episode of The Tomorrow People
in 1978.
He was a presenter and producer of Central Independent Television
's flagship ethnic minorities current affairs programme Here and Now during the early 1980s.
* Note: There is some confusion in other biographies as to the year of his birth. Other dates given are 19 September 1939 and 21 March 1945. (According to the BBC DVD Genesis of the Daleks
it states that Hilary Minster was born in 1945)
He is buried at Putney Vale Cemetery
.
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
– 24 November 1999 ) was an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
character actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
He is perhaps best known for playing General Erich Von Klinkerhoffen
General Erich Von Klinkerhoffen
General Erich Von Klinkerhoffen is a fictional character in the BBC sitcom Allo 'Allo!, which ran from 1982 to 1992. He was played by the actor Hilary Minster.The general is a very direct character...
in the sitcom 'Allo 'Allo!
'Allo 'Allo!
'Allo 'Allo! is a British sitcom broadcast on BBC One from 1982 to 1992 comprising eighty-five episodes. It is a parody of another BBC programme, the wartime drama Secret Army, and was created by David Croft, who also wrote the theme music, and Jeremy Lloyd. Lloyd and Croft wrote the first 6...
between 1984 and 1992. Other credits include Crossroads, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is a 1974 British spy novel by John le Carré, featuring George Smiley. Smiley is a middle-aged, taciturn, perspicacious intelligence expert in forced retirement. He is recalled to hunt down a Soviet mole in the "Circus", the highest echelon of the Secret Intelligence...
, and a semi-regular role in Secret Army
Secret Army (TV series)
Secret Army is a television drama series made by the BBC and the Belgian national broadcaster BRT created by Gerard Glaister. The series chronicled the history of a Belgian resistance movement during the Second World War dedicated to returning Allied airmen, usually having been shot down by the...
as Hauptmann
Hauptmann
Hauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
Muller.
He also appeared twice in Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
, as the Thal soldier Marat in Planet of the Daleks
Planet of the Daleks
Planet of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts from April 7 to May 12, 1973.-Synopsis:...
(1973) and as an unnamed Thal soldier in Genesis of the Daleks
Genesis of the Daleks
Genesis of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who that was originally broadcast in six weekly parts from 8 March to 12 April 1975. It marks the first appearance of Davros, the creator of the Daleks.-Plot:...
(1975). This makes him one of the few Doctor Who actors to have played two characters from the same alien race.
He also had a major part in another episode of a successful science fiction series playing Yagon in Achilles Heel, an episode of The Tomorrow People
The Tomorrow People
The Tomorrow People is a British children's science fiction television series, devised by Roger Price. Produced by Thames Television for the ITV Network, the series first ran between 1973 and 1979. The series was re-imagined in 1992, Roger Price acting as executive producer...
in 1978.
He was a presenter and producer of Central Independent Television
Central Independent Television
Central Independent Television, more commonly known as Central is the Independent Television contractor for the Midlands, created following the restructuring of ATV and commencing broadcast on 1 January 1982. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting...
's flagship ethnic minorities current affairs programme Here and Now during the early 1980s.
Genesis of the Daleks
Genesis of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who that was originally broadcast in six weekly parts from 8 March to 12 April 1975. It marks the first appearance of Davros, the creator of the Daleks.-Plot:...
it states that Hilary Minster was born in 1945)
He is buried at Putney Vale Cemetery
Putney Vale Cemetery
Putney Vale Cemetery and Crematorium in London is surrounded by Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park, and is located within forty-seven acres of parkland. The cemetery was opened in 1891 and the crematorium in 1938...
.